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Six in 10 councils delayed fire door maintenance or inspection programmes in the first half of the year, raising concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on housing safety.
Data gathered by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) from 147 UK local authorities that have retained housing stock show that 52% postponed maintenance and replacement works for fire doors. That figure rose to more than 60%, when delays to inspection programmes were included.
At least 26,318 fire doors were scheduled for maintenance or replacement between January and June, but work did not go ahead for 16,580 (63%), affecting at least 9,954 homes.
More than half of councils (53%) said the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions were the cause of the delays.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) intended to resume the planned work by the end of the year, but nearly a third (31%) said they had not yet set a date.
Fire-door safety entered the spotlight in March 2018 when the Metropolitan Police revealed that an undamaged flat entrance door taken from Grenfell Tower had withstood fire and smoke for just 15 minutes when tested – half the minimum time required.
Widespread issues with commonly-used fire door products later emerged through a government testing programme.
In June last year, Inside Housing revealed that one in 10 fire doors across council housing stock had been identified since Grenfell as being unlikely to meet building regulations, but that only 8% of these had been replaced.
The research has been published to coincide with Fire Door Safety Week, which is organised by the BWF and is intended to raise awareness about fire doors’ role in keeping buildings safe.
Helen Hewitt, chief executive of the BWF, said it was “vital” that building owners restart inspections and take action to fix any faulty fire doors “as soon as possible”.
She added: “It is clear COVID-19 has understandably impacted on service delivery across a variety of sectors, but fires do not stop.
“With the UK lockdown period forcing many people to spend more time at home, people without fit-for-purpose fire doors have been put at risk.
“There is a need for continued and urgent focus on ensuring the safety of all building occupants, whether in local authority or privately-rented accommodation, workplaces or other building types.”
Several councils surveyed said they had continued emergency fire door works throughout lockdown, the BWF said.
But 31% said fire door inspection programmes were delayed, affecting at least 12,596 doors.
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